StarFighter 16-Inch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Reception

  • Strong interest in a new “premium” Linux-first laptop, especially alongside recent Framework and System76 launches.
  • Many like the design, open warranty, Linux focus, and coreboot support, but pricing and component choices are contentious.
  • Some would wait for independent reviews, citing StarLabs’ history of long delays on this model.

Hardware & Design

  • Chassis is widely seen as “MacBook-like”; some call that derivative, others say minimalism leaves little room for radically different designs.
  • Praised for: 16:10 high‑res 120 Hz matte display (including 4K), metal build, ceramic-like coating, many ports, and a dedicated PgUp/PgDn/Home/End column plus near‑full‑size arrow keys.
  • Critiques: no numpad (polarizing), unusual keyboard layout (top‑right power key, narrow arrow keys, short function row), no fingerprint sensor, vents on the bottom, and no Ethernet/SD/DP despite chassis thickness.
  • Haptic glass trackpad draws comparisons to MacBooks; some applaud the premium feel, others dislike buttonless pads and would rather have physical buttons or a pointing stick.

CPU, GPU & “AI”

  • CPU options (Intel Ultra 9 285H and AMD 8845HS) are noted as 1–2 generations behind the very latest; some think this is due to supply chain and coreboot timelines.
  • Conflicting views on value: some see adequate performance and efficiency versus old Intel MacBooks; others call it outdated for the price.
  • Lack of dGPU and no explicit “AI” marketing worry those wanting heavy local ML; others note most users rely on cloud LLMs and that midrange notebooks aren’t ideal ML workstations anyway.
  • Question raised why, for a Linux laptop, they didn’t use ARM for better perf/W, but no clear SoC answer emerges.

Battery Life & Power Management

  • Manufacturer claim of up to ~18 h is met with skepticism, especially given this isn’t Panther/Lunar Lake or Apple Silicon.
  • Past StarLabs model (Horizon) reportedly had very poor real‑world battery life versus claims; this colors expectations.
  • One early user of the StarFighter reports 6–7 h under mixed heavy development workloads and much better life than an older ThinkPad P1.
  • Extensive discussion of sleep states: many lament loss of S3 (suspend‑to‑RAM) on modern laptops and poor s2idle drain, with ThinkPads and MacBooks used as reference points; whether this machine supports S3 is unclear.

Firmware, OS & Updates

  • Coreboot/open firmware is a major selling point; prior StarLabs models are already upstreamed.
  • Some praise StarLabs, System76, and others for “walking the walk” on open firmware, and criticize Framework for still not shipping coreboot (though Framework has signaled intent).
  • However, there are worries about firmware support lifespan: an older Starlite reportedly stopped receiving official firmware releases a few years after purchase.
  • Many Linux distro choices are offered; one commenter complains about the absence of Arch-based options, others argue preinstalled Arch doesn’t make much sense.

Price, Value & Market Position

  • Prices (up to ~€3.5–4k in high configs) are widely seen as steep, especially with only integrated graphics and soldered LPDDR.
  • Critics compare against discounted/refurb Dell XPS/Precision, gaming laptops, and even MacBook Pros that seem cheaper for similar or better raw specs.
  • Defenders argue niche vendors lack OEM scale, must absorb high RAM prices, invest in custom chassis, Linux QA, coreboot, and long‑term support, so you’re paying for freedom/privacy and Linux‑centric design rather than best perf/$.

Webcam, Privacy & Misc

  • Detachable magnetic webcam plus hardware kill switch are praised by some as novel, useful for privacy and avoiding nose‑cam/notches.
  • Others think a simple physical shutter would suffice and point out that microphone privacy is the harder unresolved problem.
  • Some users report very positive long‑term experiences with earlier StarLabs laptops (Starlite, StarBook), citing build quality and support; others recount severe power/USB‑C charging issues or touchscreen problems and weak battery life.
  • Debate over EU law: several users claim the 1‑year warranty and bundled charger are non‑compliant with 2‑year guarantee and charger‑unbundling rules; others question how enforceable this is for a UK vendor shipping into the EU.